From June 20 – 26, the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will bring nearly 3,000 athletes and 1,500 coaches from all 50 states to Minneapolis to compete across 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports. ESPN will provide 48 hours of live competition coverage on ESPN+ through the ESPN App, featuring events including athletics, swimming, powerlifting and flag football, along with ABC preview and review programming.
Coverage begins Saturday, June 20, with the Opening Ceremony from Huntington Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota, streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+ at 7:30 p.m. ET. ESPN’s Opening Ceremony coverage will be hosted by Kevin Connors, Jen Lada and Special Olympics Nebraska Hall of Famer Wyatt Spalding, with Jess Sims and former Paralympian Victoria Arlen also joining the broadcast. Jon Batiste and Demi Lovato will perform during the ceremony, and ABC will air a preview show Sunday, June 21 at noon ET with highlights from the event.
Throughout the Games, former Olympic athletes will help lead venue coverage, with Dan O’Brien hosting Athletics, Cheryl Haworth hosting Powerlifting and Rowdy Gaines hosting Swimming. Former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew will host Flag Football, with additional commentary from Sims, Arlen, Drew Fellios, Jason Ross Jr., Kelsey Riggs Cuff, Patrick Kinas and Eric Rothman. ABC will present a “Best of Show” review special on July 25 at noon ET.
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Where to Watch |
| June 20 | 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. | Opening Ceremony | ESPN+/Disney+ |
| June 21 | 12 – 2 p.m. | Preview Show | ABC |
| June 23 | 10 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Athletics | ESPN+ |
| June 23 | 10 a.m. – 4:20 p.m. | Swimming | ESPN+ |
| June 23 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Powerlifting | ESPN+ |
| June 24 | 9:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Athletics | ESPN+ |
| June 24 | 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Swimming | ESPN+ |
| June 24 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Powerlifting | ESPN+ |
| June 25 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Athletics | ESPN+ |
| June 25 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Swimming | ESPN+ |
| June 25 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. ( Break: 1 – 2 p.m.) | Powerlifting | ESPN+ |
| June 25 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Flag Football – Unified 5v5 Gold Medal Game | NFL Network/ESPN+/Disney+ |
| June 26 | 10 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Athletics | ESPN+ |
| June 26 | 10:40 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Swimming | ESPN+ |
| July 25 | 12 – 1 p.m. | Review Show | ABC |